We live at the foothills of Dragon Peak.
Infection, Erosion
“Mistral!”
I rushed to Mistral, who had collapsed near the entrance of the Mimicho village, and held her.
“Ugh…”
A faint, pained sigh escaped Mistral’s lips. However, her chest rose and fell with difficulty, and the barely open eyes were unfocused. With a vacant gaze as if staring into the void, she tried to look at me as I held her, and attempted to move her hand in response to my voice. But from her powerless palm, a small cup fell.
“What in the world happened!?”
I couldn’t imagine Mistral collapsing. I was confused and flustered by the situation where she, who was stronger and more cautious than anyone, had been defeated.
What had happened to Mistral? What was happening in the Mimicho village?
While holding Mistral tightly, I carefully scouted the interior of the Mimicho village.
The Mimicho village, which usually fell asleep at sunset, was filled with a commotion.
Occasional shouts were heard. The sound of many feet stomping on the ground reached me. From deep within the village, probably around the central plaza, light was leaking, and I could sense the presence of swirling spirits.
“Elnea… Run… away…”
“Mistral, what happened? Are you alright!?”
Mistral, who seemed to have some consciousness, issued a warning. But she lacked the strength to move her body and leaned heavily on me.
I didn’t know what was happening, but perhaps it was best to retreat for now. Something was happening that even Mistral couldn’t handle. Maybe I should return to the Moss Garden and ask for Old Man Sleigsta’s instructions. In that case, everyone’s help might be needed.
As I tried to stand up with Mistral in my arms.
I tensed as I sensed someone approaching me from the depths of the village.
“Mistral!”
A woman, who had used true spatial jumps to appear before me in an instant, was Priscilla-chan’s mother.
“What in the world happened!?”
“Oh, Elnea. What are you doing at this hour?”
No, no, no, I’m the one asking the questions.
I felt a sense of incongruity with Priscilla-chan’s mother, who lacked tension unlike me.
She looked at me, then at Mistral, who was limp in my arms, and tilted her head. Her rich, chestnut-colored long hair swayed beautifully.
“Grandpa told me to come here, and I found Mistral collapsed. What happened to her?”
“Ah, that…”
Priscilla-chan’s mother’s expression clouded.
Then, she handed me the vessel she was holding.
“Give this to Mistral to drink.”
I took the vessel and checked its contents.
Just water?
With a question in my mind, I did as I was told and brought the vessel to Mistral’s lips. As I poured a little water into her slightly open mouth, Mistral swallowed it with a gulp.
“My foolish ones…”
While watching me slowly give Mistral water to drink, Priscilla-chan’s mother explained the situation.
“Mistral came all the way here to apologize because Priscilla isn’t staying in the village for New Year’s again this year. Then, the old men forced this child to drink alcohol. It was brewed from Spirit Tree nectar, and it was very strong. She got drunk…”
“Ehh! So Mistral is just drunk?”
“It’s cruel to say ‘just.’ Mistral is weak to alcohol.”
“Is that so?”
I didn’t know that. Actually, I’ve never seen Mistral drink alcohol before, now that I think about it.
At Priscilla-chan’s mother’s words, I looked at Mistral again.
Flushed face. Glossy, languid eyes. Slightly disheveled breathing.
If I checked calmly, Mistral had no injuries on her body. And the small cup that fell on the ground.
Was it filled with alcohol?
The commotion in the Mimicho village, upon calm observation, lacked any sense of hostility and was noisy like a festival. It was New Year’s Eve, and it was a rare all-night festival.
“I’m so glad… I was so worried.”
As Mistral’s safety was confirmed, the tension drained from my entire body.
Still holding Mistral, I sat down on the ground.
“Mistral must have escaped here saying she had to go back, even while drunk, and then collapsed from exhaustion.”
“Escaped… So, you were forced to drink continuously?”
“I’m sorry. I’ll scold Grandpa and the others sternly.”
The group of elderly Mimicho people who could overwhelm even Mistral. They were terrifying!
“Since Elnea has come, can I leave Mistral to you?”
“Yes. But can I take her with me?”
“Oh, why are you asking?”
“Well, you came to apologize for Priscilla-chan, right? Shouldn’t I also make an appearance?”
“Fufufu, children shouldn’t be so considerate. As for Priscilla, we’re the ones who should be apologizing. Please take care of her this year too.”
“Ah, yes. We’ve already passed New Year’s. I ask for your continued favor this year as well.”
“Fufufu. Let’s have a proper greeting later, when everyone comes, to Grandma Yuuri.”
“Yes. Well then…”
I confirmed Mistral’s safety and was able to protect her. I had also greeted Priscilla-chan’s mother and taken my leave.
Just as I was about to go home, still holding Mistral,
“Wahahaha! Mistral-chan, I won’t let you escape!”
A drunkard attacked!
“Elnea, leave this to me and hurry!”
“Yes! I’ll leave the rest to you!”
As if escaping from the drunken old man, I left the Mimicho village with Mistral in a princess carry, using a spatial jump.
With consecutive spatial jumps, I covered a great distance. Now that I wasn’t in a hurry, the spatial jump extended to its maximum range, shortening the vast expanse of the Dragon Forest.
Even though I knew there were no pursuers behind me, I continued to use spatial jumps.
I passed through the Mimicho village’s barrier and raced through the midnight Dragon Forest. Whether I could reach the Moss Garden from here depended on luck.
Ah, but you know.
Since it’s just Mistral and me.
Returning to the Moss Garden immediately would be a waste, wouldn’t it? I thought, and stopped.
Then, I readjusted Mistral, whom I held tightly so as not to drop her.
Mistral, with little strength, put her arm around my shoulder.
The soft touch of Mistral transmitted through my entire arms. The way her slender body fit in my embrace made me strongly aware that Mistral was a woman.
Mistral’s face, leaning on my shoulder. So close that our cheeks could touch. Her silver-like golden hair swayed beautifully. The sighs that escaped her slightly soft, moist lips and her extended neck were alluring.
The breaths Mistral exhaled, slightly disheveled, which I rarely encountered, touched my skin.
It wasn’t the merciless cold wind of winter, but a warm flow of air that stirred my emotions.
And, a slight scent of alcohol.
“Elnea, I’m sorry…”
“Are you alright?”
Mistral, still leaning her whole body on me, turned her face slightly towards me. When I turned to face her, our lips were almost touching.
“I received the Spirit Tree nectar, so I’ve gotten much better. I’ve caused you trouble.”
“No, rather, I feel like I’ve gained something. I rarely get to see you drunk, you know.”
“Oh, you…”
Mistral puffed out her cheeks slightly, protesting my joke. But her eyes were still languid, and her expression looked adorable.
Her unusually affectionate demeanor, which I rarely saw, made me think she was cute.
“I always think of Mistral as perfect, so I’m happy to see this different side of you.”
“You idiot. Don’t be happy about my disgrace. Besides, I’m not perfect.”
“Yes. That’s right.”
Strong, beautiful, capable of everything, and considerate. Yet, Mistral is always teased by Old Man Sleigsta and made fun of by the Mimicho elders.
“I didn’t finish my trial perfectly either. And Mistral can be weak, or careless, or unable to do things.”
“Yes.”
“We just assume Mistral is perfect and treat her that way. Is that a burden for you?”
“No? What are you talking about, Elnea?”
“I just suddenly thought about it. Am I pushing everything onto Mistral?”
“Fufufu, what are you talking about? I sometimes ask Ruiseine and the others to take care of the old man, and I rely on everyone too. We’re in the same boat. I don’t think of it as a burden, nor do I feel like things are being pushed on me.”
“Is that so? That’s good.”
“But, what’s with the sudden question?”
Holding Mistral in a princess carry, I slowly walked through the Dragon Forest.
Thanks to the dragon energy reinforcement, it was easy to walk carrying Mistral, who was already light.
I continued to speak, feeling Mistral’s warmth and softness.
“Am I strong after all? My first promise with Mistral, to make you fall in love with me before we get married, but I’m still unreliable, aren’t I… I just assumed Mistral was perfect and didn’t notice your weak points. I still can’t win against you in practice matches. I’m so far from making you fall in love with me because I’m always relying on you…”
Why would I say such a thing to Mistral?
I couldn’t control my muddled thoughts, and what I was thinking just spilled out. The very fact of saying such foolish things was proof of being a weak and useless man.
Mistral, who had been silently listening to my nonsense, smiled.
“Elnea, are you drunk too?”
“Eh!?”
I haven’t had a single drop of alcohol.
The only thing I felt a scent of alcohol from was Mistral’s breath…
Huh!
C-could it be?
Did I get drunk just from Mistral’s breath?
No, no, no, that’s impossible.
But, for some reason, I feel strange.
A floating sensation, a wavering one. Is it just my imagination? My vision is also slightly blurry.
“During the trial, were you able to eat properly?”
“No, it was mostly Spirit Tree fruits and potatoes.”
“Was it tough?”
“Yes. Every day, I worked hard until my dragon energy ran out.”
“Fufufu… In that case, aren’t you in a state of weakness?”
Ah, maybe so.
After working to my limit every day, I rushed here because I thought Mistral might be in danger. I used the spatial jump to my fullest.
Then, there was Mistral’s sweet breath, carrying the scent of alcohol.
That’s why I became more susceptible to intoxication and got drunk, perhaps?
As we walked, we came out to an open area, rare in the Dragon Forest.
This is a plaza created for the Mimicho, Dragon Race, and Magic Beasts to hold festivals together.
I had permission from Old Man Sleigsta. So, it was a wide enough space for Old Man Sleigsta and Asher to come.
We proceeded into the newly made plaza.
Ah, tonight was a full moon.
I hadn’t noticed at all.
Only now did I notice the brightness of the sky.
It seems I’m also a little drunk. Let’s take a break.
I set Mistral down, and I sat down too.
Mistral, sitting next to me, leaned against me.
“Please rely on me. Everyone is happy when you rely on them.”
“Eh, why?”
“Fufufu, you don’t need to know that.”
“Why…”
“You should just be spoiled. Your worries are unfounded.”
“But I want to be a man people rely on. If not, you won’t fall in love with me.”
“With whom?”
“…Mistral.”
It’s a little embarrassing to say.
Mistral, leaning on me, stared at me, blushing.
Perhaps my drunkenness is returning a little. Her tone is starting to return to normal. However, her eyes are still glazed.
Mistral, with her hazy eyes, looked at me.
“I already rely on you plenty.”
“Really?”
“Really.”
“Really, really?”
“Really, really.”
Mistral and I looked at each other.
“I love you.”
With that, Mistral closed her eyes. I drew her closer and gently touched my lips to hers.
